Why are You Birding? — Colorado Birding Challenge 2024 Participant Profiles
CFO is holding the Colorado Birding Challenge on September 14, 2024. The Colorado Birding Challenge is a fun, county-based birding and conservation event held during the most exciting times of the birding year. The Challenge was created to provide an annual flow of funds to support specific bird conservation projects.
What is being supported this year? The Conejos River is the largest tributary to the Rio Grande in Colorado, both originate in the San Luis Valley. The Conejos system supports wildlife habitat, agricultural production, and outdoor recreation. Restoration of this system is particularly important for the Southwest Willow Flycatcher and the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Colorado.
Register and learn more on the Challenge webpage.
Owen Robertson
What initially drew you to birding?
I started birding around the age of 5 after finding a field guide and sketching the birds I saw in it. My passion was cemented after a trip to see Gunnison Sage-Grouse lekking. They’re still my favorite bird!
We see that you’re a rising high school senior. Do you plan to go to college and, if so, what do you plan to study in college?
In college, I plan to study biology (preferably with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology). I want to be a field ornithologist and study evolution in birds!
Why are you participating in this year’s Colorado Birding Challenge?
I actually didn’t know about the Challenge until this year! I came across it while registering for the CFO Convention, and it seemed like a great opportunity!
Tell us a little more about your Birding Challenge team. Do you have a name for your team? Where do you plan to bird that day? Do you have any particular birds you are targeting to see that day?
My team is composed of me, Kieran Schnitzspahn, and Archer Silverman (team name: Northern Saw-that Owls). We’re all young birders and are planning to bird in Clear Creek County, where we’ll be targeting high-elevation montane specialties and migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. It should be a really fun day!
Raymond Davis
What initially drew you to birding?
I got into birding in 1983, when I had an unknown orangey bird in my cherry tree in Lyons. I called a friend, John Vanderpoel, for ID, but he pretended he had no idea, and suggested I get a bird book and binoculars. Bullock’s Oriole, of course, and that was that.
You live close to the recent Stone Canyon Fire. Did you see any impact on birds and wildlife during and after the fire?
We got evacuated for three days due to the two fires, but the house was never in any danger. There is only one road into our neighborhood, so they are quick to close it and get us out if anything threatens. We all have a to-go bag, and are not surprised when it happens. I have not noticed any impact here on birds or wildlife.
Why are you participating in this year’s Colorado Birding Challenge?
I was Treasurer of CFO from 1992 to 1996, so am prone to keep my hand in to support the organization. I was Chief Financial Officer at People’s Clinic and Emergency Family Assistance (both charities in Boulder) for most of my career (after I quit moving pianos).
Tell us a little more about your Birding Challenge team. Do you have a name for your team? Where do you plan to bird that day? Do you have any particular birds you are targeting to see that day?
We are registered in the “Bird Your Own Way” category for the event, as we will follow no rules. I usually name the team something like “Sittin’ on Our Butts”, or “I Promise We Won’t Walk”. We MAY stroll down the driveway, but probably will just sit on the deck all day. No real target birds, except for the Pinyon Jays, and maybe an errant Clark’s Nutcracker.
I like to have people up to the deck to watch birds, so this fund-raiser is a good excuse to invite the Boulder Bird Club, my neighbors, and random friends up for the day. I’ll get 25-35 people probably, from 6 AM to 8 PM, and we’ll be lucky to see or hear 35 species, mostly in Larimer County, My property boundary on the south is the Boulder County line so we may have some Boulder County fly-bys.